Device and method for reducing air humidity in a room

ABSTRACT

A device for reducing air humidity in a room, the device comprising: a housing including an air inlet cross section and an air outlet cross section; a fan unit configured to take air into the air inlet cross section; a refrigeration unit configured to cool the air below a dew point; a first temperature measuring device configured to measure an air temperature of the air taken into the air inlet cross section; a second temperature measuring device configured to measure an air humidity of the air taken into the air inlet cross section; a third temperature measuring device configured to measure a surface temperature of a room boundary surface of the room; and a control device configured to process measured values from the first temperature measuring device, the second temperature measuring device and the third temperature measuring device to control the device for reducing the air humidity in the room.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and incorporates by reference German Patent Application DE 10 2016 212 338.6 filed on Jul. 6, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for reducing air humidity in a room. The invention furthermore relates to a method for reducing air humidity in a room.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices for reducing air humidity in a room are known in the art in many variations. In particular in building construction or when repairing humidity damage in a building so called construction dehumidifiers are used which are configured to extract humidity from the ambient air. Thus, an effect is being used where condensation water precipitates on cold surfaces. The humid air is sucked through the construction dehumidifier and run along cooling fins arranged therein which cool the incoming air to a temperature below the dew point. Thus, condensate collects on the cooling fins, drips off and is collected in a container and optionally extracted.

DE 10 2013 012 268 A1 discloses a device for regulating air humidity which includes a fan for sucking in humid air, an evaporator for condensating the water from the air and a condenser for reheating the dried air. In addition to dehumidifying the air the device shall also precipitate contaminant particles that pass through the filter and odor generating molecules which is performed by running the air through an ionizer. However, the known device treats two air flows that are separate from each other on the one hand side for dehumidification and on the other hand side for cleaning wherein both air flows are directed against a wall of the room after exiting from the device so that the two air flows are mixed again.

Typically construction dehumidifiers are turned on and off manually, some construction dehumidifiers have an automatic switch off which switches off when a maximum filling level of the condensate container is reached.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the invention to improve a dehumidifier so that operations are automated.

The object is achieved by a device for reducing air humidity in a room including a housing including an air inlet cross section and an air outlet cross section; a fan unit configured to take air into the air inlet cross section; a refrigeration unit configured to cool the air below a dew point; and a condensate container, configured to collect a precipitated condensate; a first temperature measuring device configured to measure an air temperature of the air taken into the air inlet cross section; a second temperature measuring device configured to measure an air humidity of the air taken into the air inlet cross section; a third temperature measuring device configured to measure a surface temperature of a room boundary surface of the room; and a control device configured to process measured values from the first temperature measuring device, the second temperature measuring device and the third temperature measuring device to control the device for reducing the air humidity in the room.

The object is also achieved by a method for reducing air humidity in a room including the steps: taking in air from the room by a fan unit through an air intake cross section into a housing of a device for reducing air humidity; cooling the air by a refrigeration unit in the housing below a dew point; pressing the air through an air outlet cross section from the housing; and collecting precipitating condensate in a condensate container, measuring an air temperature of the air taken in through the air intake cross section; measuring an air humidity of the air taken in through the air intake cross section; measuring a surface temperature of a room boundary surface of the room; and processing measured values for the air temperature, the air humidity and the surface temperature; and controlling the device for reducing the air humidity as a function of the measured values.

A room boundary surface can be a room wall, a room ceiling or a room floor or similar.

The device according to the invention includes means for determining a temperature and a humidity of room air and for determining a surface temperature of a room boundary surface so that the device can be turned on or off as a function of the measured values. Operating the device is useful in particular when there is a risk of condensation water precipitating at the surface of the room wall, thus when the surface temperature of the room wall is below the dew point which can be computed from the room air temperature and the room air humidity. Thus, an essential aspect is room humidity and room wall surface temperature. The control device processes the measured values and turns the device on as required. On the other hand side the device is turned off when the measured values have changed so that condensation water precipitation at the surface of the room wall cannot occur any more. Measuring temperature and humidity of the room air can be performed inside or outside the housing.

During operation of the device the three recited values shall be measured in fifteen or thirty minute intervals. When humidity in the room is non critical and the device is not in operation it suffices to measure the temperature and the humidity every hour. Certainly advantageous timing is a function of several factors like e.g. room volume so that also different timing is feasible. Instead of a timed measurement also a continuous measurement of the values is possible.

The device is characterized in that it is operable in an automated mode so that manually switching on and off is not necessary.

The individual arrangements and components of the device according to the invention can be arranged within the housing but also outside of the housing. It is also conceivable to arrange for example the temperature measuring devices and the humidity measuring devices in a separate unit. The control device can also be provided as a separate unit.

The refrigeration unit of the device according to the invention can include a refrigerant loop. This can be for example an electrically operated compression refrigeration machine in which a refrigerant can be run in a closed loop. Liquid refrigerant is transitioned in an evaporator into a gaseous condition which generates refrigeration. The refrigeration is used to condensate humidity in the ambient air. The gaseous refrigerant is then liquefied again by a compressor which generates heat. The heat generated by compression can be used for heat recovery in that the dehumidified air is run through a heat exchanger that is coupled with the compressor. The dehumidified ambient air exiting from the device through the air outlet surface is thus also warmer than the ambient air that has entered the device due to the reduced heat capacity after dehumidification. Other types of refrigerant loops are also conceive able.

Alternatively the refrigeration unit can also be formed by a Peltier element. This way electrical energy can be directly converted into refrigeration.

An infrared temperature measuring device is particularly suitable for measuring a surface temperature of a wall of the room wherein the infrared temperature measuring device measures the surface temperature touch free. Thus, it is not required to install the temperature measuring device at the wall and enable data transmission by cable or radio, rather the infrared temperature measuring device can be arranged at the device itself, for example in the portion of the control device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention a heating device is provided which facilitates heating the dehumidified air before exiting the air outlet cross section. Thus, the temperature of the dehumidified air can be increased further in addition to being heated by the heat recovery cited supra, wherein the air in the room is only heated up to the starting temperature. This has the effect that the air in the room is less humid at constant room temperature.

The quality of the room air can be increased further in that the device according to the invention includes a filter which is arranged in a portion of the air inlet cross section. The room air flowing into the device thus passes the filter which can be a mechanical or a chemical filter as required. In order to make the device compact and in order to protect the filter, the filter should be arranged behind the air inlet cross section in flow direction of the air, so that the filter is protected in the housing of the device.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the air outlet cross section is formed by an air outlet cross section of at least one nozzle which facilitates a turbulent flow of air exiting the housing. Due to a turbulent volume flow exiting the device a mixing of the dehumidified possibly heated air with the room air is provided when the dehumidified air exits so that the properties of the room air are made more uniform overall. The air outlet cross section can certainly be formed by plural nozzles.

With respect to the method according to the preamble of claim 8 the object is achieved my measuring an air temperature of room air entering the housing, measuring air humidity of the room air entering the housing, measuring a surface temperature of a wall of the room, processing the measured values and controlling the device. As already described with respect to the device according to the invention it can be determined from processing the measurement values whether condensation water forms at the surface of the wall of the room or not. The method according to the invention is continued, terminated or begun as a function of the measured values.

Cooling the incoming room air can be performed for example by a refrigerant loop or a Peltier element.

Advantageously the incoming room air after precipitation of the condensate, thus the dehumidified volume flow, is run so that it is reheated by the waste heat from the refrigeration process.

In order to achieve an additional heating effect it can be provided according to an embodiment of the method according to the invention that the dehumidified room air is heated by a heating device.

It can be furthermore provided that the incoming room air is filtered wherein mechanical filters can be used.

When the dehumidified room air is flowed through at least one nozzle in a turbulent manner out of the housing the dehumidified volume flow mixes with the room air and homogeneous air conditions are generated.

Last not least various features of the dependent claims can be implemented individually and in any combination in variants of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is subsequently described in more detail based on an embodiment with reference to drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view through a device according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the device according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a device 1 for reducing an air humidity in a room 2, wherein the device 1 is cut in the longitudinal direction (arrow 3). The device 1 includes a cuboid housing 4 which is assembled from individual sheet metal components 5. At a bottom side 6 of the housing 4 two or four rollers 7 are visible which facilitate moving the device 1. The device 1 is flowed through along its longitudinal direction (arrow 3), wherein an air volume flow flowing through the device 1 is indicated by arrows 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 in various positions. Room air (arrow 8) is suctioned into the housing 4 by a fan 13 which is arranged in flow direction 14 at a suction end of the housing 4, wherein the room air (arrow 8) passes an intake grid which defines an air inlet cross section 16 into the device 1 and passes an intake filter 17 arranged behind the intake grid. The filtered room air (arrow 9) then flows into an evaporator 18 where it is cooled at cooling surfaces of the evaporator so that the condensate precipitates. The condensate is captured in a condensate container 19 which is configured funnel shaped and which includes an outlet 20. The outlet 20 is adjoined by a tubular conduit 21 which is run along or through the housing 4 where an openable and closable condensate drain spout 22 is positioned.

From the evaporator 18 the dehumidified room air is moved into a chamber 23 where condensation heat of the refrigerant which is compressed by a compressor 24 arranged below the chamber 23 is transferred. Thus, the initially cooled and dehumidified room air is reheated and leaves the chamber 23 as dehumidified heated room air (arrow 10). The evaporator 18, the compressor 24, a non-illustrated expansion valve and heat exchanger surfaces of the chamber 23 form components of a refrigerant loop. Typically the condensation dehumidifier 25 is electrically operated.

After the dehumidified room air exits from the chamber 23 the dehumidified room air (arrow 10) is run through an electrically operated heating device 26 where it is heated further. Subsequently the cooled, dehumidified and reheated room air passes the fan 13 and exits the device 1 through nozzles 27 back into the room 2. FIG. 1 illustrates 2 or 4 or 6 nozzles 27. The sum of the air outlet cross sections 28 of the nozzles 27 forms the entire air outlet cross section of the device 1. The volume flow (arrow 12) exits the nozzles 27 as a turbulent volume flow that mixes with ambient untreated room air. This generates uniform air conditions and an air stratification is prevented.

The heating device 26 is optional wherein a safety temperature limiter 29 is advantageously used downstream of the heating device wherein the safety temperature limiter is configured to cut the heating device off when the dehumidified and heated room air exceeds an upper temperature threshold.

Shortly before the room air enters the nozzle 27 a flow monitor 30 can be arranged. When the flow monitor 30 does not detect any air flow the device 1 is also turned off.

In a portion between the air inlet cross section 16 into the device 1 and the evaporator 18 a device 31 for measuring the air temperature and a device 32 for measuring humidity is arranged so that temperature and humidity of room air 8 entering the device 1 are measured. Furthermore the device 1 according to the invention is provided with a device 33 for measuring a surface temperature which is configured as a temperature sensor which measures a temperature of a room wall surface through infrared wherein the room wall surface is not illustrated in the figure. All measured data is transmitted to a control device 34 for processing the detected values, wherein the control device 34 is furthermore used for controlling the device 1. When the measured values show that condensation water precipitates at the room wall surface the device 1 is turned on. When precipitation of condensation water does not occur at the room wall surface any more the device 1 remains turned off or is turned off. The control device 34 is arranged in FIG. 1 on the housing 4 and attached thereon.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram with respect to the function of the device 1 according to the invention of FIG. 1 wherein the room wall 35 is indicated. In FIG. 2 the device for measuring the temperature 31, for measuring the air humidity 32 and for measuring the surface temperature 33 are combined in a unit, wherein the captured data is forwarded to the control device 34. When an operation of the device 1 is useful based on the data processed in the control device 34 the control device 34 is automatically activated by the control device 34, this means that the fan 13 of the condensation dehumidifier 25 and the heating device 26 are turned on. The room air (arrow 8) is dehumidified and heated and leaves the device 1 through the nozzles 27.

REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS

-   -   1 device     -   2 room     -   3 arrow     -   4 housing     -   5 sheet metal component     -   6 bottom side     -   7 roller     -   8-12 arrow     -   13 fan     -   14 flow direction     -   15 suction filter     -   16 air inlet cross section     -   17 suction filter     -   18 evaporator     -   19 condensate container     -   20 outlet     -   21 tubular conduit     -   22 condensate drain spout     -   23 chamber     -   24 compressor     -   25 condensation dehumidifier     -   26 heating device     -   27 nozzle     -   28 air outlet cross section nozzle     -   29 safety temperature limiter     -   30 flow monitor     -   31 temperature measuring device     -   32 humidity measuring device     -   33 temperature sensor     -   34 control device     -   35 room wall 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for reducing air humidity in a room, the device comprising: a housing including an air inlet cross section and an air outlet cross section; a fan unit configured to take air into the air inlet cross section; a refrigeration unit configured to cool the air below a dew point; and a condensate container, configured to collect a precipitated condensate; a first temperature measuring device configured to measure an air temperature of the air taken into the air inlet cross section; a second temperature measuring device configured to measure an air humidity of the air taken into the air inlet cross section; a third temperature measuring device configured to measure a surface temperature of a room boundary surface of the room; and a control device configured to process measured values from the first temperature measuring device, the second temperature measuring device and the third temperature measuring device to control the device for reducing the air humidity in the room.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration unit includes a refrigerant cycle.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration unit is formed by a Peltier element.
 4. The device according to claim 1, the third temperature measuring device is an infrared temperature measuring device.
 5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a heating device by which dehumidified air is heatable before exiting from the air outlet cross section.
 6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a filter that is arranged in a portion of the air inlet cross section.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet cross section is formed by at least one nozzle which is configured to generate a turbulent flow of the air exiting from the housing.
 8. A method for reducing air humidity in a room, the method comprising the steps: taking in air from the room by a fan unit through an air intake cross section into a housing of a device for reducing air humidity; cooling the air by a refrigeration unit in the housing below a dew point; pressing the air through an air outlet cross section from the housing; and collecting precipitating condensate in a condensate container; measuring an air temperature of the air taken in through the air intake cross section; measuring an air humidity of the air taken in through the air intake cross section; measuring a surface temperature of a room boundary surface of the room; and processing measured values for the air temperature, the air humidity and the surface temperature; and controlling the device for reducing the air humidity as a function of the measured values.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein cooling the air is performed by a refrigeration cycle.
 10. The method according to claim 8, wherein cooling the air is performed by a Peltier element.
 11. The method according claim 8, wherein the air is run after precipitating the condensate so that the air is heated by waste heat generated by the refrigeration unit.
 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the air is run after precipitating the condensate so that the air is heated by a heating device.
 13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the air is filtered after passing through the air intake cross section.
 15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the air is flowed from the housing in a turbulent manner through at least one nozzle after precipitating the condensate. 